Activity ostomy bag

ABSTRACT

The ostomy receiving bag comprises a front wall ( 2 ) and a rear wall and has a top end and a bottom end. The top end of the rear wall is provided with an inlet to receive a stoma, and one wall is provided with at least one first half of a fixation pair (A), and the same effective wall after closure of the bag, if available, is provided with at least one second half of a fixation pair (B), such that when the first half and the second half of the fixation pair are attached, the volume of the receiving bag is reduced.

This is a national stage of PCT/DK05/000572 filed Sep. 8, 2005 andpublished in English.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a collecting bag to be secured to theabdomen of a patient or to a body side ostomy member for collectingfluids or excretions.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a collecting bag to be secured to theabdomen of a patient or to a body side ostomy member for collectingfluids or excretions emerging from an abdominal stoma.

In connection with surgery for a number of diseases in thegastro-intestinal or urinary tract a consequence is, in many cases, thatthe colon, the ileum or the ureter has been exposed surgically and thepatient is left with an abdominal stoma, or, in nephrostomy orureterostomy, the ureter or a catheter is exposed in the back or thechest region or abdominal region, and the effluents or waste products ofthe body, which are conveyed through these organs, are dischargedthrough the artificial orifice or opening and are collected in acollection bag, which is usually adhered to the skin by means of anadhesive wafer or plate having an inlet opening for accommodating thestoma/ureter/catheter. Also in connection with a fistula, the patientwill have to rely on an appliance to collect the bodily materialemerging from such opening.

Ostomy appliances are well known. Such appliances may be two-piece orone-piece appliances. In both types of appliances, an adhesive barriermember (or base plate) is attached to the wearer's abdomen/back/chest.In case of a one-piece appliance, a receiving member or bag is attachedto the base plate. In case of a two-piece appliance, the adhesivebarrier member forms part of a body side member and a receiving memberor bag is attached releasably to the body side ostomy member forreceiving exudates from the stoma.

When using one-piece appliances, the whole appliance, including theadhesive skin barrier securing the appliance to the skin is normallyremoved and replaced by a fresh appliance. When using two-pieceappliances, the body side ostomy member is left in place up to severaldays, and only the receiving member or bag attached to the body sidemember is replaced. The attachment means for attaching an ostomyreceiving bag may be a system known per se comprising matching couplingrings or matching flanges and adhesive surfaces engaging with andsealing against a flange area of the body side member.

Ostomy receiving bags are available in various sizes for taking intoaccount the different need for collecting capacity of the users, boththe difference between different users and also for the individual useraccording to actual situation and diet. The different sizes may alsoallow the user to use a small bag or cap for discretion when e.g. whengoing out or attending public meetings.

However, as the secretion of exudates from the stoma cannot be regulatedat will, situations often occur where the actual size of a more discreetcollecting bag is not sufficient which may cause severe embarrassmentfor the user.

Thus, there is a need for a very discreet collecting bag which alsooffers a solution to an acute demand for a larger capacity of thecollecting device.

SUMMARY

The present invention discloses a system to fold an ostomy bag, therebyreducing volume, and maintaining such folded position by fasteningmeans, a fixation pair.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE

Thus, the present invention relates to an ostomy receiving bag 100 (SeeFIG. 1) comprising a front wall 2 and a rear wall 4 and having a top end102 and a bottom end 104, wherein

-   -   the top end portion 106 of the rear wall 4 is provided with an        inlet 108;    -   one wall 2, 4 is provided with at least one first half of a        fixation pair A or B; and    -   the same effective wall 2 or 4 after closure of the bag 100, if        available, is provided with at least one second half of a        fixation pair (B or A)        such that when the first half and the second half of the        fixation pair A, B are attached, the volume of the receiving bag        100 is reduced. This system offers the users the possibility for        extra discretion by reducing the volume of an empty (or nearly        empty) pouch (bag 100). Still, the bag 100 is readily expandable        when needed. Using this system, it is secured that the folded        bag 100 does not tend to fall down during use. A cover sheet 110        is attached to the front wall 2 and includes opening 112. The        bottom end 104 provides an outlet tail 114 extending away from        the front and rear walls.

Thus, one confirmation of the invention relates to the ostomy receivingbag wherein the bottom end of the receiving bag is folded back and theat least two fixation pairs are attached. This confirmation is preferredwhen the product is delivered to the customer, and if the customer hasjust emptied the bag.

The ostomy receiving bag according to the invention may be adapted foruse together with an ostomy body side member (2-piece appliance) whereinthe receiving bag is provided with coupling means for releasablesecuring to matching coupling means placed on the ostomy body sidemember and wherein the inlet opening is adapted for alignment with ahole of the ostomy body side member for receiving a stoma.

The ostomy receiving bag according to the invention may, as analternative, be adapted for use directly (1-piece appliance) in whichcase the bag is provided with an adhesive wafer for securing thereceiving bag to the user's skin, said bag and wafer having an inletopening for receiving a stoma.

The receiving bag itself typically comprising front and rear wallssealed together along the rim and provided with an inlet opening may bemade in analogy with and from materials conventionally used for thepreparation of ostomy appliances.

An ostomy body side member for use together with an ostomy receiving bagaccording to the invention may be produced from standard materialsnormally used for preparation of disposable ostomy and wound andincontinence devices. Thus, the adhesive wafer for a body side member orof a 1-piece ostomy appliance bag according to the invention may be madefrom a medical grade barrier adhesives known in the such as theformulation being disclosed, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,732,5,051,259 or 5,714,225. For a 2-piece ostomy appliance according to theinvention the body side member and the receiving bag are provided withmatching coupling means.

Typical for such production, the ostomy receiving bag according to theinvention are manufactured so that the front and rear wall are sealedtogether along the rim thereof. The coupling means for use in connectionwith the present invention may be any suitable coupling means known perse for coupling of ostomy base plates to ostomy collecting bags, e.g. amechanical coupling such as matching coupling rings such as the couplingrings disclosed in WO 93/18725 or WO 94/18919 or matching flanges foradhesive connection of the type disclosed in No. 15 U.S. Pat. No.5,800,415.

Apart from dividing ostomy bags into one- and two-piece bags, both ofthese exist as so-called “open” and “closed” bags. A closed bag in thepresent invention would take the form of an ostomy receiving bagcomprising a front and a rear wall and having a top end and a bottomend, wherein

-   -   the top end of the rear wall is provided with an inlet;    -   one wall is provided with at least one first half of a fixation        pair; and    -   the same wall is provided with at least one second half of a        fixation pair        such that when the first half and the second half of the        fixation pair are attached, the volume of the receiving bag is        reduced.

However, in one embodiment the invention relates to an open bag. An openostomy bag comprises a closable outlet in the bottom end of thereceiving bag, whereby excess semi-liquid material can be drainedwithout removing the bag from the user.

Consequently, in one embodiment of the invention, when the open bag isin it fully unfolded configuration at least one second half of thefixation pair is placed on the opposite wall as at least one of thefirst half of the fixation pair, but the closure of the open bag resultsin the two halves of the fixation pair to be on the same side of theostomy bag.

Many kinds of fixation pairs exist, and are known to the skilled person.In one embodiment referring to FIG. 1 the fixation pair A, B ishook-hook. In another embodiment the fixation pair A, B is hook-loopprovided as a hook-loop fixation pair sold under the trademark VELCRO.In yet another embodiment the fixation pair A, B is non-tacky adhesivesurfaces. In yet another embodiment the fixation pair A, B is pressstud. In yet another embodiment the fixation pair A, B is snap fastener.In yet another embodiment the fixation pair A, B is a popper. In yetanother embodiment the fixation pair A, B is glue. In yet anotherembodiment the fixation pair A, B is press sensitive adhesive (PSA). Inyet another embodiment the fixation pair A, B is tape. In yet anotherembodiment the fixation pair A, B is snap lock. In yet anotherembodiment the fixation pair A, B is a button combination. In yetanother embodiment the fixation pair A, B is clips. In yet anotherembodiment the fixation pair A, B is a zipper. In yet another embodimentthe fixation pair is string A, B. In yet another embodiment the fixationpair A, B is a microbutton combination. In yet another embodiment thefixation pair A, B is an interlocking folding. In yet another embodimentthe fixation pair A, B is a magnet combination.

In one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention on the samewall as the fixation pair the receiving bag further comprises at least astretch of a cover of a sheet material covering the half of the fixationpair closest to the top of the receiving bag, whereby the stablefixation of the first half and the second half of the fixation pair isfurther secured.

However, as will be well known to the skilled person, the ostomyreceiving bag is preferably provided with a cover of a sheet materialcovering one or both walls. This is to limit the view into the receivingbag.

In one embodiment, a cover sheet at the same wall as the fixation pairis provided with a cut defining a part of the cover which only covers apart of the corresponding wall and is only secured to the wall along thepart of the rim being superimposed on the sealed rim of the front andrear walls.

One embodiment of the invention, in which the cut cover sheet onlycovers the corresponding surface partly, offers an option of folding thebag and putting the folded part under the cover sheet. This foldingreduces the size of the bag and keeps the folded end discreetly hiddenunder the cover sheet and thus ensures discretion. Furthermore, itallows for an easy enlargement of the active volume of the bag simply bywithdrawing the end of the bag from under the cover sheet, should alarger collecting volume suddenly be needed in situations where there isdifficult or no access to a rest room.

When the cover sheet of the front wall is cut along a line perpendicularto the longest dimension of the front wall the end of the bag is easy toinsert and withdraw from behind the cover sheet. Thus, one embodimentrelates to an ostomy receiving wherein a cover sheet of the same wall asthe fixation pair is cut along a line perpendicular to the longestdimension of the front wall.

It is preferred that the cover sheet of the front wall superimposing thetop end of the front wall forms a pocket which will not give rise tofolding of the top part of the cover sheet. Consequently, one embodimentof the invention relates to an ostomy receiving bag, wherein a coversheet of the same wall as the fixation pair superimposes the top end ofsaid wall and forms a pocket.

It has been found suitable when the length of the cover sheet of thefront wall is from 25 to 100% of the longest dimension of the front wallwhich still allows for a considerable temporary reduction of the volumeof the bag and reduces the use of raw materials. Thus, it is foreseenthat the cover sheet may be in the form of a band covering a part of thefront wall.

It is preferred that the cut of the cover sheet of the front wall isplaced at a length of from 50 to 75% of the longest dimension of thefront wall. In an another embodiment of the invention, the cover sheetbeing cut covers all of the surface of the corresponding wall and issecured to the wall along the part of the rim being superimposed on thesealed rim of the front and rear walls leaving a slit defining twopockets each covering an end part of the bag.

Thus, in the volume reduced configuration, the one embodiment of theinvention relates to an ostomy receiving bag wherein the bottom end ofthe receiving bag is folded back and stretches under the cover sheet ofthe same wall as the fixation pair.

In one embodiment of the invention, the wall with the fixation pair isthe front wall. This is preferred so the user can unfold outwards (awayfrom the user) in an easy way. However, another embodiment of theinvention, the wall with the fixation pair is the rear wall. Hereby isobtained that the folding will not get in touch with the user's clothes.Likewise, the fixation pair, whether attached on un-attached will notget into the user's cloth. Not only does it avoid sticking to theclothes, but it alleviate the tendency of clothes to grap the bottom endof the receiving bag in volume reduced configuration and tear it fromthe fixation pair, thereby unintentionally unfolding the receiving bag.

It is preferred that the cover sheet is of a porous material as suchmaterial may reduce noise from the bag and improve the “breathing” ofthe skin covered by the bag. Suitable porous materials for use as coverfor the purpose of the present invention are woven or non-woven sheetmaterials which are moisture resistant and may be united with materialsconventionally used in the production of ostomy appliances such asnon-woven materials of polyethylene, polypropylene or a polyester.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the end of the bagopposite the top end is provided with a strip of material extending fromthe bottom end which will render it easier to grasp and withdraw thefolded end of the bag from behind the cover sheet.

Furthermore, it is preferred to secure the strip in a manner that allowsan easy removal, so that it e.g. can be torn off, naturally without riskof damaging the welding of the pouch which might lead to leaks, afterthe expansion or unfolding of the bag in order to reduce any discomfortby the strip stretching from below the pouch in the unfolded state.Thus, it is preferred that the ultimate strength of the strip in thearea in which it is secured to the pouch is lower than the tearingstrength of the welding of the rim of the pouch.

This may be achieved by securing the strip to the rim of the bag using awelding being weaker than the welding of the rim of the pouch and alsoweaker than the ultimate strength of the strip itself. Alternatively,the strip may be provided with one or more notches or perforations nearthe area in which it is secured to the 10 pouch in order to ensure thatthe ultimate strength in this area is lower than the tearing strength ofthe welding of the rim of the pouch. The strip may be of any suitablematerial being compatible with the cover sheet and fulfilling the aboverequirements.

It is especially preferred that the length of the strip is longer thanthe distance from the bottom end of the bag in its folded state to thecut off line of the cover sheet as the end of the strip will thenprotrude from behind the cover sheet and thus be easier to grasp.

The placing of the halves of the fixation pair, and the shape of thosepairs, makes it possible to obtain various foldings. In one typicalembodiment of the invention, at least one first half of the fixationpair is placed in the top portion of the receiving bag. This will ensurea high degree of volume reduction.

In another embodiment, at least one second half of the fixation pair isplaced in the bottom portion of the receiving bag. If combined with theembodiment wherein the first half of the fixation pair is placed in thetop portion of the receiving bag, the receiving bag can be folded in totwo halves, reducing the volume with 50%, and reducing the length of thebag with similar approximately 50%.

In yet another embodiment, at least one first half of the fixation pairstretches from the top portion of the receiving bag to about the middleof the receiving bag. This will allow the user to wear a receiving bagwith adjustable size and volume from about a 50% reduction to 25%reduction.

In another embodiment, at least one second half of the fixation pairstretches from the bottom portion of the receiving bag to about themiddle of the receiving bag. These positions of fixation pairs willallow adjustable size from about 50%, when the bottom part is attachedto a Z-fold, that is two foldings, resulting in a 67% reduction involume.

It is presently speculated that the maximum volume reduction with thefewest means and the least hassle to the user is obtained when at leastone first half of the fixation pair is placed in the top portion of thereceiving bag and at least one second half of the fixation pair isplaced about ⅔ down the receiving bag. Folding the bag inbetween the twofixation pairs, and thereafter attaching the fixation pairs to eachother will resulting in a gravity mediated folding just “below” thebottom most half of the fixation pair and the bottom of the receivingbag. This Z-fold, will give a 67% reduction in volume and it will onlytake op 33% of the space of the unfolded receiving bag.

As will be evident the skilled person, combination of the abovementioned placings of the halves of the fixation pairs can be done. Forexample, multiple sets of fixation pairs are placed along the length ofthe receiving bag allowing multiple foldings, and providing the userwith a feeling of rolling the receiving bag, and a various degrees offoldings can be obtained to suit the user's needs.

Of course, in the simple preferred version one set of fixation pairs areplaced on the receiving bag.

In a preferred embodiment the ostomy receiving bag comprises onefixation pair, at least one first half of the fixation pair is placed inthe top portion of the receiving bag, and at least one second half ofthe fixation pair is placed in the bottom portion of the receiving bag,the wall with the fixation pair is the front wall, the ostomy receivingbag is an open bag, and the fixation pair is velcro.

FIGURES

FIG. 1

This figure shows the unfolded embodiment of an open bag 100. Here onepiece of a fixation pair (half of a fixation pair) is placed marked withthe letter A, and the second piece of the fixation pair (second half offixation pair) is placed with the letter B. When this open bag 100 isclosed, during use, the second half of the fixation pair B, is on thesame side as the first half A, here on the front wall 2.

FIG. 2

This figure shows a further embodiment of an ostomy receiving bag 200according to the invention. Here, the cover sheet 210 of the front wall(202) is cut off at a length of from 25 to 80% of the longest dimensionof the front wall 202 and is in the form of a band (9) covering a partof the front wall 202. The bottom end (212) being folded back andstretching under the cover sheet (210) of the front wall (202) and theend of the strip (6) of a sheet material are visible above 206 and below208 the band 9 formed by the cover sheet 210.

FIG. 3

This figure shows the embodiment of FIG. 2 in an nfolded state, seenfrom the surface facing away from the user (front wall 202). The figureshows the front wall (202), the cover sheet (210), a top end portion 220of the rear wall 224 is provided with an inlet 228 and the strip (6)extending from the bottom end 212 and indicating an adhesive wafer 230situated on the rear wall 224.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An ostomy receiving bag comprising a frontwall sealed to a rear wall along a sealed rim and having a top end and abottom end, the top end of the rear wall is provided with an inlet andthe bottom end provides an outlet tail extending away from the front andrear walls with a closable outlet at the bottom end; a cover sheetseparate from the outlet tail and secured to the sealed rim of one ofthe front and rear walls, the cover sheet including a cut that at leastone of a top edge and an opposing bottom edge of the cover sheet has acentral portion that is not attached to one of the front and rear walls;and one of a first half of a fixation pair is placed on a top endportion of the receiving bag, and a second half of the fixation pair isplaced on a bottom end portion of the receiving bag; wherein attachmentof the second half of the fixation pair to the first half of thefixation pair locates the outlet tail on the top end portion of thereceiving bag between the cover sheet and one of the front and rearwalls to reduce a collection volume of the ostomy receiving bag and tocover a majority of the outlet tail from view; further whereinseparation of the second half of the fixation pair from the first halfof the fixation pair allows expansion of the collection volume of theostomy receiving bag for use with the closable outlet closed.
 2. Theostomy receiving bag according to claim 1, wherein the outlet tail ismovable from between the central portion of the cover sheet and one ofthe front and rear walls to open the receiving bag and thereby increasea volume of the receiving bag.
 3. The ostomy receiving bag according toclaim 1, wherein the first half of the fixation pair is a hook that isattachable to a hook of the second half of the fixation pair to providea hook-hook fixation pair.
 4. The ostomy receiving bag according toclaim 1, wherein the first half of the fixation pair is a hook that isattachable to a loop of the second half of the fixation pair to providea hook-loop fixation pair.
 5. The ostomy receiving bag according toclaim 1, wherein the fixation pair is non-tacky adhesive surfaces. 6.The ostomy receiving bag according to claim 1, wherein the fixation pairis one of a press stud fastener and a snap together fastener.
 7. Theostomy receiving bag according to claim 1, wherein the fixation pair isglue.
 8. The ostomy receiving bag according to claim 1, wherein thefixation pair is press sensitive adhesive (PSA).
 9. The ostomy receivingbag according to claim 1, wherein the fixation pair is tape.
 10. Theostomy receiving bag according to claim 1, wherein the fixation pair isa button combination.
 11. The ostomy receiving bag according to claim 1,wherein the fixation pair is clips.
 12. The ostomy receiving bagaccording to claim 1, wherein the cover sheet is secured to the sealedrim of the front wall and the fixation pair is placed on the front wall.13. The ostomy receiving bag according to claim 12, wherein the bottomend of the central portion of the cover sheet is not attached to thefront wall, the cover sheet superimposed on the top end of the frontwall to form a pocket.
 14. The ostomy receiving bag according to claim12, wherein the cover sheet has a length from 25% to 100% of the longestdimension of the front wall.
 15. The ostomy receiving bag according toclaim 14, wherein the cover sheet has a length from 50% to 75% of thelongest dimension of the front wall.
 16. The ostomy receiving bagaccording to claim 1, wherein the cover sheet is a porous material. 17.The ostomy receiving bag according to claim 1, wherein the bottom end isprovided with a strip of material extending from the bottom end.
 18. Theostomy receiving bag according to claim 17, wherein a strength of thestrip at a location of secural to the pouch is lower than a tearstrength of a welded rim of the pouch.
 19. The ostomy receiving bagaccording to claim 1, wherein the first half of the fixation pairstretches from the top end portion of the receiving bag to about amiddle of the receiving bag.
 20. The ostomy receiving bag according toclaim 1, wherein the second half of the fixation pair stretches from thebottom end portion of the receiving bag to about a middle of thereceiving bag.